Hi all I want to replace the veniyl top of my 68 Skylark custom. You can see the condition of the venyl top on the pict ures. My porblem is, i dont know what for parts i need to replace the venyl top. I have saw an the partsplace shop this top <table style="width: 353px; height: 40px;" id="table2" border="1" bordercolor="#484848" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#f4f4f4" width="10%"> CV143 9S</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#f4f4f4" width="60%"> (1968 - 1972 Skylark/GS) TOP WITH PLASTIC WINDOW WHITE <input value="229" name="Price" type="hidden"> </td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#f4f4f4" width="10%"> $229.</td></tr></tbody></table>
The two best makers of convertible tops are by Electron and Robbins. http://www.electron-top.com/ http://www.robbinsautotopco.com/ There is so much labor involved that I would sure get the best by buying one of these two brands. They will resist tears and last. Then you are faced with the condition of the seals all the way around the car. If they do not come with the top kit, you can buy these separately. One place that sells seals these is the Parts Place which sells Metro brand seals. Sesls are especailly important if you leave the car outside or drive it in wet weather. Next is the issue of the pads for the top. They are important for fit and to present tearing the top. Cable condition? Header bow condition? Well liner condition? Latch condition? If it were me I would get a pro to help me. Top installation with the correct fit is not something that would be easy for the average first time person. Some instructions:http://www.convertibletopguys.com/topmanual.shtml Another sales place: http://www.1aauto.com/1A/ConvertibleTops/Buick/GranSport
You can get an entire top and rear glass window for that price on Yearone 15% off on Sundays. They sell Kee tops which are made right here in Charlotte, NC . Also check your well liner. Legendary makes only style that is "close" to original if you care. Nice '68 you have there White on White. :TU: DL
Year One is so out of line on their shipping and handling charges that I would be careful about considering them especaily for oversears shipping.
Jim that is a valid point. However, I think mine ran about $50. Which I think is very reasonable for such a heavy/large package. He will just need tog et a quote. What I don't like about TPP is they DO NOT calculate shipping upon check out,you get a email in a few days what your shipping charges will be. DL
$50.00 for shipping?????????:shock: All the tops I get cost me $25.00 shipping. And the last Kee top I installed did not fit very well,and had wrinkles sewn into it.Electron,Robbins and EZ-on top's are about the best fit and quality that I have ran across in the last 20 years.
Jr that is to a business correct ? Shipping to a private residence is quite different. PS Go Bears. DL
Hello The parts they condition are worst: Venyltop, Frontpads and sidecables. I watched today the catalog from electrontops, and im now very confused. Wich parts i need? There are some parts and some prices... i dont know what i need venyl Curtain no zipper 150$ Front pad set 68$ Sidecables 48$ Glass window black 286$ i want a white plastic window where is it??? I would to buy a complete kit a la plug and drive... Can everyone explain this? Thanks for the help Robert
Looking at the catalog. Special, Skylark, G.S. $ 280.00 GM 3680 20 1/2" 6 Vinyl Curtain No Zipper (No Bottom Strip) $ 150.00 2 Spl Front Pad Set (See Pad Pages) $ 68.00 Well Black (Call for Price on Colored or Different Materials) $ 116.00 Side Cables (See Cable Pages) $ 48.00 Glass Window Tinted $ 286.00 ET 5020 3 Glass Window Tinted With Zipper $ 296.00 ET 5029 3 Suggested Color OE02 TR01 TR02 I think this is top. Special, Skylark, G.S. $ 280.00 GM 3680 20 1/2" 6 This is the 'window' Vinyl Curtain No Zipper (No Bottom Strip) $ 150.00 2 You may be best off by giving them a call.
I have bought many times from both places. Shipping from the parts place is consistently a lot cheaper even though they are much further away from me. YO is clearly addding in handling or packing charges for their stuff.
I was told by my YO sales rep that they add a sir charge to the order for fuel,as FedEx and UPS charges them one.
I highly suggest staying away from Key Auto Tops . I also sell Electron and Robbins in my shop and have been installing them for 15 years. Best fit and finish , GREAT customer service and quick turnaround . I have never had a top come back on me in 15 years . Before that I used CRown . Stitcher www.bennettsupholstery.com
I just had a top installed last week on my 72 GS. The owner of the upholstry shop's opinion was that Kee and EZ-On were not too good. Their fit was inferior and it took a lot of extra labor to make them work right. He also said that Crown supplied JC Whitney for years, and now Kee fills that void... This upholstry shop only uses Electron or Robbins for our A-bodies, and he elected to go with an Electron for mine. It came out awesome! Electron even has a bulletin out about altering the traditional installion near the rear seam above the window. With our frames getting older and looser, they have seen issues where tears are caused not by their top, but by our wiggy frames or poor installations. Legendary does not make tops for our cars, and I'm not sure who they're buying from. I also bought the repro header piece, and I didn't hear any complaints about it's quality.
I bought a Kee top from year one for my 71 skylark, and was not that impressed with quality or fit. The installing shop prefers Electron top, which is where I got for my triple green 71 GS. VERY noticable quality difference in the Electron top, and it did cost more initially, but cheaper to install because of better fit (less labor time). Electron top gets my business from now on, should I need ANOTHER top!!!
My shop is close to Electron tops and only use there products. They are a First class family operation they manufacture all the stuff right there in house .If theres a problem they will fix it ASAP.Never had a problem Yearone and Legendary are distributors and use Kee's brand had a problem once when a heat sealed seem separated on install. They took care of it but its a pain in the ass when you have to send it back to Legendary than they need an ok from Kee's etc you get the idea.You need the GM3680 with Vinyl rear window ,top pad set and cables I bet the trunk well liner also needs replacement .I would suggest you upgrade to a full glass rear curtain they last longer and are easier to install than the vinyl rear .One thing I dont like about Electron tops is they send you the front header bow seal material only you have to sew it to your old material which is usually no good . Kee's top includes a new completly sewed front seal. Also Electron top material is heavier than Kee's and takes more work to put on even if both companys rate them as 36oz. tops.Besides the top you will need to check the rear bow welt material to which the top is stapled after 30 years they are no good .You will find as you remove the old top that the material it is stapled to simple falls apart . Make sure you have stainless staples and good quality vinyl glue like DAP for a clean install.Electron also has European distributors call them for there contact # you can save alot of shipping cost. If you need any more info fell free to IM me I am also a dealer for Electron tops and can save you 25% off there retail prices.
